How to Care Hibiscus Plant

Hibiscus is a tropical plant known for its big, colourful flowers. They love warm temperature and usually need to be protected during cold weather. They have woody stem and grow close to the ground. The flowers of this plant are very big in size and are of different colours like red, peach, yellow, orange, purple.

What if your hibiscus plant is not giving flowers? What if your hibiscus buds are falling regularly? Leaves of the plants are turning yellow and pests are attacking the plant. In this article, we are going to provide the solutions for all of these problems.

Hibiscus is a perennial plant, if you will take proper care of it then it can survive for many years with you. Generally, hibiscus should be grown in the ground but with proper technique and care we can grow it inside the pot also.

1. Sunlight for Hibiscus

Hibiscus plants grow in sunlight, in which the rays of the sun are needed to bring buds,

make flowers. The best place for hibiscus is a place that gets 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight in

a day. The ideal temperature for this plant to grow is 15℃-35℃. If the temperature goes beyond the range then keep the plant in shade otherwise leaves might get burnt. You need to save this plant from extreme cold and winter dew also. Size of the flowers of this plant is big so they need more energy to grow and they get energy from sunlight.

2. Pot Size for Hibiscus

Roots of this plant are bigger in size, so you need a big pot for them at least 12 inches. Choose the pot very wisely because they prefer root bound also. When you buy this plant from nursery, do not shift them into another pot immediately. In fact, even if your plant is 2-3 years old and doing well in the current pot then also do not shift it because this plant gets transplant shock very easily. Leaves might start to turn yellow and the plant would stop giving flowers. If you think that plant has grown up very well and your current pot size is small according to the plant then you can shift it to a bigger pot. Do it with all care to prevent it from transplant shock.

❖ Best pots are clay pots but you can choose as per your convenience. You can take cement, ceramic or any pot.

3. How to Water Hibiscus Plant

Hibiscus needs balanced water, over watering leads to fungus and pests in the plants. It will stop the growth of the plant, leaves will start turning yellow, and buds will get weaker and start falling down. At the first go give water nicely and after that check the top soil of the pot. If the soil is dry, then loose the soil with any tool and check if the soil is completely dry or sticking to the hands. If it is wet do not give water. In winters, do not give water daily.

4. Pesticide for Hibiscus Plant

Pest attack, fungus, mealybugs and all are very common problems with hibiscus plants. To prevent it, first of all avoid over watering. If you have more than one hibiscus then keep this plant at different places with gaps otherwise all of them would get pest attack at the same time.

❖You can do neem spray weekly on this plant.

❖If you want to prevent your plant from pest attack then check your plant every third day. ❖Observe the stems, branches, flowers and both sides of the leaves properly, if you have even a minor doubt of pest attack then spray insecticide on it immediately.

❖ACTARA insecticide is good for the removal of pests and safe for the plants, you can use this insecticide.

5. Pruning of Hibiscus Plant

If you want so many flowers in your plant, then you need to be regular in pruning. We need to do the pruning of the leaves, stems, branches and flowers.

❖Remove all the yellow leaves, spotted leaves otherwise the plant will waste its energy on these leaves.

❖You can remove the leaves from the bottom of the plant also because they do not play as such any role in photosynthesis.

❖Bottom leaves cover the soil which is not good for the plant and fungus also spreads through these leaves.

❖We should not do over pruning of leaves otherwise the process of photosynthesis would get disturbed.

Note:

❖Always do the pruning of the plant in the growing season, not during winters because at that time growth of the plant stops.

6. Best Fertilizer for Hibiscus Plant

Hibiscus is a heavy feeder plant, it needs fertilizer every 15 days. You can give any fertilizer like cow dung, mustard cake, vermicompost or any other which is available. You can give banana peel fertilizer also because banana peel contains high potassium, and potassium is very important for biological and chemical growth of the plant.

Hibiscus is a very beautiful plant. Enjoy the beauty of this plant!!